Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Psychology Authority
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Bastard.
I glared up at the sky, pouring all that meaning into it. God lives up there anyway. Maybe he'll get it?
Even if he doesn't, I stared with all my might, just in case. Looking up like this keeps the tears from flowing. Nice.
Ah. Correction. A little just slipped out.
"Um..."
Ignoring my little escape from reality, a voice came from my arm.
What? Just because I hear a voice doesn't mean it's a person, right? This is a modern fantasy world. Nothing's off-limits here.
Yeah, the voice from my hand belongs to a parasite. Parasite. Yes, para—
"Um..."
No way that's true~ As soon as I looked down, I accepted reality. A person was hanging there.
Our eyes met. Beautiful eyes like the sea trembled anxiously as they looked up at me. What do I do?
I really hate this. I can barely handle Isia and Sophia. No thanks to another one.
And why's her face so red? I didn't save her. I did save her, but no, I didn't.
I drank, but I didn't drive drunk. Same vibe, but no.
"Uh... hi?"
What now. Seriously, what do I do? How do I slip out of this naturally? She nodded shyly at my greeting.
What’s with that bashful nod? Please stop.
I racked my brain while staring at her fumbling to speak.
Ways to escape this situation.
Not just escape. A way where she doesn't get interested in me or get involved.
1. Run away.
From experience, she'll track me down to say thanks. 500% chance.
2. Explain it wasn't me.
Would she believe that?
3. Want to be my maid?
You madman. Why add more?
Fine, Operation 4 it is. I took a deep breath.
"Um, th-thanks—"
"Hey."
"Yes?"
I looked down at her, startled by the interruption. Her face was like she was about to go "Hic!" But I'm a ruthless guy.
If I say I'll do it, I do it. Short for—
"Stop bothering people and causing a fuss!!"
I hurled the blue-haired girl straight to the ground without finishing the thought.
Kyaak—!!
A short scream, then a splash hit me. She looked up with a frozen expression, and I felt a bit sorry.
But this is best. Leave the worst impression possible, and she won't come looking. She'll think, 'Got mixed up with a trash guy.'
Yeah. Best for both of us. See ya.
Should I spit too— Nah, that's too much. I turned away.
We're strangers now? Total randos?
"Wow. Words fail me."
[Tsk.]
Where'd you sell Nyan off to? I trudged toward the dorm, enduring the sharp glares from waiting Raphael and Lachesis.
—Y-You're a good person!!
That's what I should've heard.
The next day.
Ranking matches, Day 5.
I need to figure out why "Spirit Chant Nullification" hasn't shown up yet before the final day. That's how my treasure—no, Isia—wins.
I stayed up all night pondering how to torture—er, help her.
"Even old-timey heretic inquisitors didn't agonize over torture methods like you, Seong-hoon."
"Really? Feels like they did."
"Sure, but not with your level of passion."
I see. No point arguing here; it'll just drag on. Guess I'll believe her.
Not that I'm believing you; it's just true.
"Not that I'm believing you; it's just true."
See?
Raphael, authority on psychology, Lee Seong-hoon.
Not liking my smug face, Raphael headbutted my chest. Damn, that hurt.
Rubbing the sore spot, we arrived at the meeting place.
There they were.
Three silhouettes where there should only be two.
Silver, black, blue.
Blue?!
"Stop."
"Why?"
I halted and shaded my eyes from the sun, peering at the outdoor bench.
One, two, three.
"Seriously three?!"
"Three what... Huh? It really is three. Even the one you slammed into the ground yesterday."
That's an exaggeration. Slammed? I tossed her gently.
"You cussed her out too."
Not cussing. It was a leap for mutual happiness. Get your words right.
[Sigh.]
Where the hell's Nyan been since yesterday? I flicked the sighing cat on my shoulder and debated running.
"Hey!! Over here!!"
Sophia spotted me and waved enthusiastically. She looked thrilled, but I've never felt less welcome.
She's smiling so nicely; can't just ignore. And those blue eyes already locked on mine.
"Go?"
"You wanna not go?"
I ignored the damned blonde's question-with-a-question and walked over.
"Hi!!"
A twinge of headache hit as the girl greeted me with a grin the moment I sat.
"How'd you...?"
"Oh! Came to say thanks since I couldn't yesterday!!"
Yeah, how? Reading my eyes, Blue Hair went "Ah!" and continued.
"I've got my ways. Hehe."
Not an answer at all. What's with the scary phrasing?
As I clutched my temple from the headache, something flopped between me and Blue Hair.
Black hair. Long straight locks swaying, then her head lifted, staring right at me. Why the pout? Why the glare?
"Some of us are stressing over spells that won't work right, while others go meeting new people. Lucky you."
She whipped her head away with a "Hmph." What’s her deal?
"I didn't meet her because I wanted to."
As I pressed her head down, she grabbed my arm and whined like "It's the same thing—!!"
Are you a five-year-old throwing a tantrum?
"Right. Wasn't because you wanted to meet."
"See? Told you. We just happened to—"
"Totally. Fate. Never dreamed the prince on the white horse from fairy tales was real."
"What?"
What loose-screw nonsense is this? I blinked in confusion, but Blue Hair looked enraptured, reliving our "meeting."
For a split second, Isia and Sophia shot me death glares, but it had to be my imagination. Moving on.
"You appeared in my moment of crisis! Saved me from danger and held me in your arms."
No. Yes, but no. It's a bit different. I didn't hold you; you fell.
"Not lying."
Shut it. I smacked the damned blonde chiming in. She clutched her head with question marks, but ignored.
"Then you said! 'Hi? You okay? I'm here.'"
"I didn't!!"
"You did say hi— Ow!!"
I clamped Raphael's mouth, then looked up to retort to still-dreamy Blue Hair.
Words failed.
Two pairs of eyes on me.
One from Black Hair, head on the table, turned just enough for a "Really?" look.
One smiling, definitely smiling, but scary Silver Hair.
What are they? I turned away as far as possible.
Shake shake shake.
No clue why, but I had to deny it. It was wrong from the start. I didn't do that.
"Then you knew I recover in water, so you gently put me in. You ran off embarrassed, but here I am!!"
Is that it? Delusions of grandeur? Pathological liar? Something?
No, but seriously, didn't know. Does she have a water recovery skill? If I knew, I wouldn't have tossed her on the ground.
My bad. Mistake.
I ignored the sharp stares and said,
"Yeah? Thanks given, so you can go now."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yep."
A bit harsh, but no choice. Getting involved with her drags in the other main heroines. She's someone I'll cross paths with eventually, but once business is done, we're done.
If I get more tangled with her—
"Don't like that... Hm. You said magic wasn't working earlier?"
"No. It works fine."
"Huh? Thought you said it wasn't!!"
"Nope~ Per~fectly fi— Mmph!!"
I covered Isia's mouth. She's been weird lately. Then I asked shyly smiling Blue Hair,
"Know anything about it...?"
"I do!! So can I stay?!"
Before I could answer, the blonde next to me piped up.
"I know the answer. Obviously. Please stay!! Right?"
Correct.
You a psychology authority too, Lee Seong-hoon?
Shin Ga-yeon.
That's the name of the blue-haired girl teaching Isia something over there.
Raised in a famed sword family, she's a total space case who bolts unpredictably. A swordswoman practicing magic daily, causing mana overloads—that's her character.
"Know why your spells fail? Wait. We're same age, so casual speech okay?"
"Yeah. Go for it."
"You're learning it, but why—"
Thwack!
Isia, sitting primly, shut up after a knee to the thigh. Then glared at me resentfully.
Resent away. As long as you hit treasure trove!!
"Hey. Why me~"
Thwack!!
No idea why, but Sophia joined the training too. Me and Raphael just watched, munching popcorn.
"Told you to load up on popcorn. Mana-infused is tastier."
"Cola for the win."
Anyway, simple reason I left it to her: she probably knows. Those who've failed know failure best.
Mana overload is her daily life; no way she doesn't know why spells flop.
"Sucking the juice and tossing?"
"Weird phrasing. Say 'strategic utilization'?"
"Sure sure~ Whatever~."
I ignored the blonde's "Hmph" and weird face, finishing my thought: reason I avoid her isn't her.
It's her family. Specifically, her little sister.
Future Sword Saint, one of Kim Tae-hyun's main heroines.
Not Shin Ga-yeon's ponytail, but short hair with headband, book lover.
And the one I was supposed to dungeon with—
"Sis. Said you'd be here...?"
Yeah. That's her. Blue bob, expressionless face right in front of me, sky-blue eyes unlike her sister's—
"Pfffttt!!!!!!"
"Ah!! Gross!!"
I spewed cola everywhere and stared ahead. My explosive spray drew blue eyes my way.
She recognized me, exclamation mark over her head, emotionless face.
Shin Ga-yeon's twin sister.
Shin Chae-yeon.
Why are you here...?